Systems and methods for dispatching utility repairs

Abstract

A method to dispatch utility repairs. The method may include displaying directions to a location of a first work assignment on an electronic device. The directions may update as the electronic device changes location. The method may also include displaying items to complete at least a portion of the first work assignment. The items may be displayed when the electronic device location is substantially the same as the first work assignment location. The method may include detecting at least one operator acknowledgment of completion after the portion of the first work assignment is complete or after all portions of the first work assignment are complete. The method may also include displaying directions to a location of a second work assignment when the electronic device detects that all portions of the first work assignment are complete.

1 . A method to dispatch a repair for a utility system comprising:
 displaying directions to a location of a first work assignment on an electronic device, wherein the directions update as the electronic device changes location;   displaying items to complete at least a portion of the first work assignment on the electronic device, wherein the items are displayed when the electronic device location is substantially the same as the first work assignment location;   detecting, on the electronic device, at least one operator acknowledgment of completion after the portion of the first work assignment is complete or after all portions of the first work assignment are complete, or some combination thereof; and   displaying directions to a location of a second work assignment on the electronic device when the electronic device detects that all portions of the first work assignment are complete.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving, at the electronic device, the first work assignment from a dispatching server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising sending the at least one operator acknowledgment of completion from the electronic device to a dispatching server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directions to the location of the first work assignment comprise a route on a map from the electronic device location to the first work assignment location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directions to the location of the first work assignment being displayed update as the electronic device location moves along a route toward the first work assignment location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying items to complete at least the portion of the first work assignment comprises displaying an operator entry form associated with the first work assignment on the electronic device to allow an operator to provide data related to the first work assignment, wherein the form is configured to be filled out on the electronic device and submitted by the electronic device to a dispatching server. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising sending a status update to a dispatching server when the electronic device location is substantially the same as the first work assignment location, the portion of the first work assignment is complete, all portions of the first work assignment are complete, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving, at the electronic device, a plurality of work assignments from a dispatching server as a group before a work shift starts, one after each work assignment is complete, or some combination thereof 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising receiving, at the electronic device, a revised plurality of work assignments from the dispatching server based on a schedule determined by the dispatching server. 
     
     
         10 . A system to dispatch a repair for a utility system comprising:
 a dispatching server configured to:
 receive work assignments to complete work orders within the utility system; 
 assign the work assignments to field crews; 
 provide the work assignments to the field crews; 
 receive statuses of the work assignments from the field crews at any of a plurality of stages of completion; 
 receive acknowledgments from the field crews when the work assignments are complete; 
 reassign work assignments at any time of day based at least in part on the statuses and on the acknowledgments from the field crews; and 
 provide reassigned work assignments to the field crews. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatching server is configured to assign or reassign work based at least in part on numbers of hours worked by the field crews, a time of day, distances traveled by the field crews, distances to be traveled by the field crews, nature or urgency levels of the work assignments, physical locations of outages, a number of vehicles operating in a vehicle fleet, maintenance records of a work vehicle, availability of the work vehicle, equipment installed in the work vehicle, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatching server is configured to provide information to a dispatching terminal and receive updates from the dispatching terminal, the dispatching terminal is configured to be operated by a dispatcher, provide the dispatcher with a dispatching schedule, allow the dispatcher to manually alter the dispatching schedule, and allow the dispatcher to alter work assignment details and status. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the dispatching server is configured to receive responses from the field crews indicating acceptances of the assigned and reassigned work assignments. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of stages of completion comprise a work crew location being substantially the same as a work assignment location, a portion of a work assignment being complete, all portions of the work assignment being complete, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising handheld electronic devices configured to be used by the field crews, wherein each handheld electronic device is configured to:
 display directions to a location of a first work assignment, wherein the directions update as the handheld electronic device changes location;   display items to complete at least a portion of the first work assignment, wherein the items are displayed when the handheld electronic device location is substantially the same as the first work assignment location;   detect at least one operator acknowledgment of completion after the portion of the first work assignment is complete, after all portions of the first work assignment are complete, or some combination thereof; and   display directions to a location of a second work assignment when the handheld electronic device detects that all portions of the first work assignment are complete.   
     
     
         16 . An article of manufacture for a dispatching system comprising:
 one or more tangible, machine-readable media having encoded thereon processor-executable instructions, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to display directions to a location of a first work assignment on an electronic device; 
 instructions to update the directions as the electronic device changes location; 
 instructions to display items to complete at least a portion of the first work assignment on the electronic device, wherein the items are displayed when the electronic device location is substantially the same as the first work assignment location; 
 instructions to detect, on the electronic device, at least one operator acknowledgment of completion after the portion of the first work assignment is complete or after all portions of the first work assignment are complete, or some combination thereof; 
 instructions to send the at least one operator acknowledgment of completion to a dispatching server, wherein the at least one operator acknowledgment of completion indicates a status of the first work assignment; and 
 instructions to display directions to a location of a second work assignment on the electronic device when the electronic device detects that all portions of the first work assignment are complete. 
   
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions to receive the first work assignment from the dispatching server. 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to display items to complete at least the portion of the first work assignment comprise instructions to display an operator entry form associated with the first work assignment on the electronic device to allow an operator to provide data related to the first work assignment, wherein the form is configured to be filled out on the electronic device and submitted by the electronic device to the dispatching server. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to update the directions as the electronic device changes location comprises instructions to update a route on a map as the electronic device changes location. 
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to update the directions as the electronic device changes location comprises instructions to update directions as the electronic device location moves along a route toward the first work assignment location.